III 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 141 

Designating September 9, 2005, as ‘‘National Fetal Alcohol Spectrum 

Disorders Awareness Day’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 12, 2005 

Ms. MURKOWSKI (for herself, Mr. JOHNSON, Mr. STEVENS, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. 

COLEMAN, Mr. DODD, and Mrs. MURRAY) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating September 9, 2005, as ‘‘National Fetal Alcohol 

Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day’’. 

Whereas the term ‘‘fetal alcohol spectrum disorders’’ includes 

a broader range of conditions and therefore has replaced 

the term ‘‘fetal alcohol syndrome’’ as the umbrella term 

describing the range of effects that can occur in an individual whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy; 

Whereas fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are the leading 

cause of mental retardation in western civilization, including the United States, and are 100 percent preventable; 

Whereas fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are a major cause 

of numerous social disorders, including learning disabil-
2 

•SRES 141 ATS

ities, school failure, juvenile delinquency, homelessness, 

unemployment, mental illness, and crime; 

Whereas the incidence rate of fetal alcohol syndrome is estimated at 1 out of 500 live births and the incidence rate 

of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders is estimated at 1 out 

of every 100 live births; 

Whereas the economic cost of fetal alcohol syndrome alone to 

the Nation was $5,400,000,000 in 2003 and it is estimated that each individual with fetal alcohol syndrome 

will cost United States taxpayers between $1,500,000 

and $3,000,000 in his or her lifetime; 

Whereas in February 1999, a small group of parents of children who suffer from fetal alcohol spectrum disorders 

came together with the hope that in 1 magic moment the 

world could be made aware of the devastating consequences of alcohol consumption during pregnancy; 

Whereas the first International Fetal Alcohol Syndrome 

Awareness Day was observed on September 9, 1999; 

Whereas Bonnie Buxton of Toronto, Canada, the co-founder 

of the first International Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Awareness Day, asked ‘‘What if . . . a world full of FAS/E 

[Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Effect] parents all got together 

on the ninth hour of the ninth day of the ninth month 

of the year and asked the world to remember that during 

the 9 months of pregnancy a woman should not consume 

alcohol . . . would the rest of the world listen?’’; and 

Whereas on the ninth day of the ninth month of each year 

since 1999, communities around the world have observed 

International Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Awareness Day: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 
3 

•SRES 141 ATS

1 (1) designates September 9, 2005, as ‘‘National 

2 Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day’’; 

3 and 

4 (2) calls upon the people of the United States 

5 to— 

6 (A) observe National Fetal Alcohol Spec7 trum Disorders Awareness Day with appro8 priate ceremonies to— 

9 (i) promote awareness of the effects of 

10 prenatal exposure to alcohol; 

11 (ii) increase compassion for individ12 uals affected by prenatal exposure to alco13 hol; 

14 (iii) minimize further effects of pre15 natal exposure to alcohol; and 

16 (iv) ensure healthier communities 

17 across the United States; and 

18 (B) observe a moment of reflection on the 

19 ninth hour of September 9, 2005, to remember 

20 that during the 9 months of pregnancy a 

21 woman should not consume alcohol. 

Æ